Minor Wisdom

Logan

My cousin Katy sent me a link to this video with a Christian message.

Retrospective

I thought it might be fun to look back at this year’s posts and highlight some of my favorites. I also thought that the exercise might give me a clue about exactly what the hell I’m doing with this blog (because frankly, I haven’t figured that out yet).

Keb’ Mo’: “Folsom Prison Blues”

Keb’ Mo’ performs Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues. ’Nuff said.

Next week: Keb’ Mo’ again, in a duet with Corey Harris.

Proof that I used to be a good runner

Yesterday I noticed that our Christmas decorations did not include a manger scene. So with nothing much else to do, Suzanne (my wife) and I dug into the backroom closets in search of Jesus Mary & Joseph. We did not find the Holy Family. But we did find an old issue of Running Times, circa 1986, with an account of that year’s Barathon. I did quite well that year, coming in second at 35:19 despite some problems with navigation.

Merry Christmas, everybody.

Photo credit: Val Karg, via the Chicago Tribune.

Isaiah 9:1–6

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.

You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as men make merry when dividing spoils.

For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.

For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for flames.

For a child is born to us,
a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.

They name him Wonder-Counselor,
God-Hero,
Father-Forever,
Prince of Peace.

His dominion is vast and forever peaceful,
from David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Rockabilly granny

When I first watched this video, I thought maybe there was some trick videography involved. But no, it’s for real. It’s Cordell Jackson, who once said, “If I want to wang dang rock ’n’ roll at 69 years old dressed up in an antebellum dress, it ain't nobody’s business but mine.”

Watch this.

Greg Peters has posted a video of Young@Heart performing Fix You by Coldplay. The lead singer is Fred Knittle, who suffers from congestive heart failure and whose baritone is assisted by O₂. Please spend your next four minutes watching and listening to it.

Joy to the world; the Lord has gum.

Snopes has a delightful collection of Christmas mondegreens. A mondegreen is a mishearing of song lyrics, like Jimi Hendrix’s “Excuse me, while I kiss this guy.” My favorites (besides the title of this post) include these:

• “Jeff’s nuts roasting on an open fire ...” (That’s got to hurt.)
• “Good King Wences’ car backed out / On the feet of heathens.”
• “Oh what fun it is to ride / With one horse, soap, and sleigh.” (For years during my childhood, I thought these were the actual lyrics.)

Dirty Mac: “Yer Blues”

For those who have overdosed on Christmas sweetness, here’s something to balance things out: John Lennon performing Yer Blues, with help from Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Mitch Mitchell. It doesn’t get much better than that, folks.

Next week: Keb’ Mo’.